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‘Proper utilisation of Rs 40m grant to enhance floriculture sector’

By Razi Syed

KARACHI: The proper utilisation of Rs 40 million grant for agribusiness sector Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) approved by Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF) will ensure positive results.

Director ASF Appraisal Committee, Mateen Siddiqui said Friday that most important feature of the funds would be attaining international certifications including GlobalGAP, BRC and ISO 22000.

ASF Appraisal Committee has started supporting floriculture exporters to comply with the Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group, Good Agricultural Practices (EUREPGAP) and ISO certification requirements besides granting them funds for producing quality promotion.

Besides, SMEs in floriculture farms sector should also be supported in obtaining customized expert inputs in running the business. The government has decided to enhance the export potential of the country’s horticulture produces by establishing different projects, he added

He said measures should be introduced to help promote floriculture as a viable economic activity in Pakistan. Mr Siddiqui said the stakeholders of floriculture urged the government to fulfill demand of setting up the Agri-Marketing Integrated Centres (AMIC) and Common Facility Centre (CFC) in Sindh and Punjab provinces.

He said Pakistan is successfully involved in biotechnology, tissue culture, cutting of floriculture, and as a result we are now in a position to export flowers to the developed world. Pakistan, mostly a fresh flower market, is almost flooded with roses, a flower preferred in all types of ceremonies, as well as in perfume industry and in many Auravedic and Greek medicine preparations.

He said EDF should contribute Rs 30 to 40 million for the project while Punjab government should provide land on lease as equity to flower growers, and exporters should develop this sector in line with international market trends.

The grants for SMEs approved by ASF Appraisal Panel at its 19th meeting were done for implementation of a variety of projects spread all over Pakistan. Chief executive officer PHDEB, Shamoon Sadiq said plots of 4 acres each were under way to be leased out to flower growers and exporters to develop this sector according to international standards. An ASF, a non-profit company has been established under which about 2000 agro-enterprises are expected to benefit over the five years of the project’s life, he added.

He said ASF is an independent body with five directors from private sector, one each from four provinces and a banker, work with four directors are appointed from the public sector for the promotion of exports and production of fruits, vegetable and dates.

ASF is shouldering 50 percent of the expenses of farmers and exporters to acquire certification in order to enable them to compete in the international market. Three main donors, ADB, FAO and UN through WFP window, primarily support agriculture sector in Pakistan. ADB is providing development assistance via two main project portfolios, Agriculture Sector Program Loan-II and Agribusiness Development Project.

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